Saturday, July 05, 2008

These are not Oscar predictions. They are my preferences -- the five performances in each category I have loved most this year from the 50 films I've screened. I'm doing this since the year is half over... and also just begun. (Oh, you know how Hollywood waits and waits to release the juicy stuff...) Unfortunately none of them will get any traction for acknowledgements later in the year when various groups start giving prizes. It's all in the timing...

Best Leading ActressAmy Adams -Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day (review)Irene Azuelas -Burn the BridgesFamke Jannsen -Turn the River (interview)Frances McDormand -Miss Pettigrew Lives For a DayJulianne Moore -Savage Grace (review)

Watch out people. Julianne comes roaring back into psychosexual territory and none too soon. I need redheads experiencing mental breakdowns in dramas like most people need warm blondes falling in sweet love in romcoms. I just do. Adams and McDormand are appealing if not extraordinary in Miss Pettigrew (though I was tempted to replace one of them with Katharine Heigl who was ready to do a lot more for 27 Dresses if the film or screenplay had only figured out what to ask of her), Azuela holds all the threads of Burn the Bridges to her bosom like a protective makeshift mother (any Mexican readers know anything about this young talent?), and Janssen announces again that Hollywood isn't properly utilizing her talents. She's strong in Turn the River.

[note: Before anybody gets their panties in a twist: I have not seen The Visitor. I do enjoy Richard Jenkins work generally so...] The hyperbole was really out of control on Robert Downey Jr's Tony Spark/Iron Man spin. It's not like he was reinventing the wheel. Still it was thrilling to see this great actor headline a big star vehicle for a change. Every other performance here was more surprising in a way but you can't fault RDJ for being reliable. He's been consistently charismatic and spot on since way back in the 1980s.

The other men didn't get even 1/100th of RDJ's praise but they deserve some as well. Colin Farrel especially. He gives his best performance yet in the deceptively simple but intricately enjoyable In Bruges (from the amazing playwright Martin McDonaugh --I'd also highly recommend his Oscar winning short film Six Shooter.) He plays a hitman with a guilt-ridden conscience and it's amazing to see him drift away from his sadness whenever something amuses or surprises him (dwarves, drugs, women) only for it to snag hold of him again as his mind invariably snaps back. There's so much happening in his face. Gleeson partners him well. Klouman (in his first major role) is beautifully attentive to all of his scene partners and a true natural. Finally, Pinon improbably transforms his weird self into something resembling a romantic leading man. Wow.Best Supporting ActressAudrey Dana -Roman de GareShirley Henderson -Miss Pettigrew Lives for a DayClaude Sarraute -The Last MistressCharlize Theron -Sleepwalking (review)Victoria Winge -Reprise

My apologies have to go out toPatricia Clarkson in Married Life (review), Eva Amurri in The Life Before Her Eyes(review) both of whom I talked up previously but I couldn't do without Henson's mesmerizing schemer, Sarraute's hilarious horny grandma, Dana's accidental muse, Theron's film stealing mojo and Winge (stealing a line from Pajiba here) "who looks like Björk if Björk was from Earth"Best Supporting ActorEugenio Derbez -Under the Same Moon (review)Ralph Fiennes -In BrugesVal Lauren -True Love (previous notes)Victor Razuk -Stop-Loss (review)Channing Tatum -Stop-Loss

I am commentless at this moment.Best Cameo / Tiny RoleSteven Coogan Finding AmandaErnesto D'Alessio Under the Same MoonHenrik Mestad RepriseJérémie Renier In Bruges

I couldn't think of five but these men added wonderful notes to their films.

It's really thrilling to see Julianne Moore return to old territory. She was really brilliant in Savage Grace and I'm sure it'll be one of her underrated performances in the vein of Safe and Vanya on 34th Street, but I'm just glad to see she's still got it.

Glad to see Amy Adams is not forgotten. Will her performance in "Miss Pettigrew..." enhance her credibility and chances at a nomination in Supporting for "Doubt" if she delivers the goods in a competitive year?

I'm glad Asia Argento has 'The Third Mother' and 'The Last Mistress' out at the same time, just for counterbalance. She's basically slumming it in 'The Third Mother,' even if it's her father's film. Quite literally she swims in shit (mind you I love Dario most of the time). In 'The Last Mistress' she really gets to use her natural ferocity. The way Breillat lingers on her tears and guttural screams really make that film.

sigourney weaver for the girl in the park,miss weaver proves yet again when it comes to late 50's versatility she should be getting some of meryls work,i'd have loved/preferred to have seen her in doubt!!!

If we are counting '4 Months...' as 2008, then Anamaria Marinca deserves recognition hands down, I have to agree with J.D. on that.

Moore is beautiful and breathtaking in 'Savage Grace' and Redmayne had a nice presence about him as well.

I know I'm in the minority for this, but 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' is, IMO the best thing Apatow has had his name on since 'Freaks and Geeks'. It's consistently entertaining, avoids many of the cliches that would follow such a film and features a pretty gosh-darn appealing turn from Mila Kunis...

but the best supporting work I've seen thus far in the year came from Russell Brand. Took that character and RAN with it. I mean sprinted a fucking marathon. I haven't laughed harder this year than watching him moan over that Hawailian shirt... absolutely priceless. A comedic turn on par with Kline in 'Wanda'.But that's just me, and I know that's high praise indeed because Kline is such an involving actor even when given subpar material (made a castle out of a shack in 'Life as a House') but Brand was so effective that I just... I don't know. I adored him in that part.

Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky", but I suppose you'll have to wait a few months to see it.And I agree with Colin Farrell. Too bad he can't usually make better choices.

I'd really like to know what is C+ worthy in 27 dresses because the screenplay was so terrible that despite trying hard, I couldn't enjoy it for longer than a minute. It looked like some kind of remake of already dumb "How to lose a guy in 10 days" and was so silly and predictable I ended up disturbing the audience by laughing maniacally in 'wrong' moments. It seems like there was an idea, but it got completely lost.I tried to focus on costumes but it didn't work either. D- for me, not F because I could see Katherine Heigl trying.

Have to second arkaan on Andrew Garfield in particular for Boy A, who was outstanding. Also Jamie Bell in Hallam Foe, Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky, Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Isla Fisher in Definitely, Maybe (I may be a little blinded by infatuation there, but so so charming and funny), Bill Milner in Son of Rambow, Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man (seriously), and most of the cast of The Edge of Heaven (still the best film so far for me).

Supporting Actress:-Amy Adams, Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day-Cate Blanchett, Indy 4-Kim Cattrall, Sex & the City (Runner-up) The film was disappointing but she’s fantastic and I love the serie-Chiara Mastroianni, Love Songs (WINNER)-Naomi Watts, Funny Games - I hate the film but she's greatHonorable Mention: Amy Poehler, Baby Mama

I'd have to go with Jamie Bell for Mr.Foe as well...also, I agree with the Sigourney Weaver statement that she should be getting some of Streep's roles! Julianne Moore as always. I thought Evan Wood gave an outstanding supporting performance in Life Before Her Eyes...and secondly, then Eva Amurri in the same movie! Perfect chemistry between those two.I also loved Paltrow in Iron Man, and Blanchett in Indy 4!

I am meaning to ask you every time you praise Reprise, Nat: have you seen Danish Reconstruction by Christoffer Boe from five years back? IMO it is superior (it's easily one of my personal top three movies this decade, in fact) and I think you'd be surprised how similar to Reprise it is at times, both stylistically and thematically.

As for the main topic, I have to agree with the commenter who mentioned Anika Noni Rose. I don't care that No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is technically a TV production - the girl delivers absolutely flawless comedic performance.

That's about it so far, unless I cheat and start putting 2008 releases of 2007 or older films... But I am sure I'd add Robert Downey, whom I adore, if only I hadn't missed Iron Man in theatres down here. Alas, I foolishly thought the blink-and-you-missed-it releases were reserved for arthouse films, not blockbusters.

True about the release date, but given that the Weinsteins are gonna give it a mini-release, and that's done the festival circuit (and it airing on British TV last year), so I thought it wouldn't matter. But Garfield's amazing enough that I do hope he gets more roles, because I don't think I've been as impressed by a young actor as I was with him in a long time.

EW has Cynthia Nixon as a Best Supporting Actress contender for "Sex and the City: The Movie". That's . . . interesting, but good for her anyway.

My picks right now would probably be Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor", Amy Adams for "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day", and Ryan Phillipe for "Stop-Loss". Yeah, that's it. And huge amounts of love for "WALL-E", though that wouldn't count here for acting.